Daniel Peterson, long a conservative political activist, has jettisoned the GOP and joined ranks with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a fellow Mormon, to lead the fight for more comprehensive gun control legislation. Specifically Peterson will labor in Utah, (where he is a professor at The BYU) in an effort to bring some semblance of sanity to Utah’s current gun culture. When pressed for a comment, Peterson replied: “‘Interpret’ it how you want–but after Mitt’s dismal showing last year and the GOP’s future prospects, I’ve decided to lead a new and more positive, constructive life.” There have apparently also been discussions of Peterson leaving the newly formed Interpreter A Journal of Mormon Scripture–an online Mormon Apologetic publication–to take a position as the social media editor for Dialogue, a Journal of Mormon Thought. Neither Peterson, or Kristine Haglund (Dialogue’s current Editor–and shoe fashion guru) could be reached for further comment.

Below the jump, is a post I first wrote for the Bloggernacle Timeson 09/23/06. We were several years into the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and the natural abuses of war were being made manifest. Here we are almost five years later and the United States still maintains troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan, for reasons that frankly escape me (particularly in light of the extreme heat–but very little light–generated by the far right about deficits, balanced budgets, and the like). Regardless, I think the message behind Christ’s injunction, i.e., The Golden Rule, is as relevant and important today as they ever were–even in times of war.

Dick Cheney, one of the primary architects of the Iraq war, and of the Bush Administration torture policies has just publishedhis long anticipated autobiography–so called. In it, Mr. Cheney makes no apologies and pitches his torture philosophy all over again. He did the same in a recent interview at media friendly Fox News Sunday. I find the idea is still antithetical to Christ’s teaching of treating others as we would be treated.

The links in the old post should all work (at least the vast majority of the ones I tested did). You may have to wait a minute for the link to actually link through to the original source, as it first takes you to the cached web page of the provider first, then takes you to the actual original link. (more…)

In an interesting turn of events, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals which is currently deciding the Federal Constitutionality of Proposition 8, which in fact is now a Constitutional Amendment to the California Consitution, has asked the Califonria Supreme Court to weigh in on the standing issue. Proposition 8, currently embodied in the Califonria Consitution in Article I, section 7.5 of the declaration of rights, reads: (more…)

Lots of noise today from the political right. Lots of discussion about “restoring honor to America” and “getting back to God.” On this I can agree with those who so proclaim from the nation’s capitol, today. The path, however, lies through keeping the commandments, and not adhering to the philosophies of men. America has strayed from Her primary purpose as the Cradle of the Restoration, but not through any political sins–so called. Rather, Her people like many before have strayed from the Commandments of God, and no longer worship Jesus Christ. This is where America’s fundamental problem lies.

The solution is rather simple–but most, likely will not see it because of the simplicity. If we truly want to restore honor to America and get back to God, we should begin to keep His Commandments and we will prosper in the land. The best way to do that is to follow the Brethren, not Beck. We will restore much more honor to America and get much closer to God by reading more of the Scriptures, praying more to God, serving others, than by all the breast beating and pontificating from Washington D.C. Choose you this day . . .